Chapter 1275: Chapter 700: Paper Flower (Double Chapter)
Trapped here for many days, I finally left this World of Ignorance, and even further left the depths of the Forbidden Land.
As for what happened during this time, apart from scattered memories, Yin Tingxue could not clearly recall.
She only remembered killing her way through a bloody mess, her black robe stained crimson and stiffened to black, and the sword in her hand was coated with a thin crust of blood.
The journey was ultimately without danger, except for the initial unexpected patrol by the Wuming Lord, later she managed to come out safely.
Everything has ended.
A door stood before her.
Yin Tingxue pushed open the door, the scene of the Capital City reappeared before her eyes. She glanced around at this familiar landscape, then looked up at the signboard, long since unpainted with gold leaf and intertwined with dead vines.
Unexpectedly, after coming out of the World of Ignorance, she just so happened to be at the Xiangwang Mansion.
Yin Tingxue’s gaze narrowed slightly, she shook off the bloodstained sword, killing a major enemy in one’s life should have been the greatest pleasure, but the wander through the World of Ignorance had worn away much of the joy, and upon emerging, it happened to be the Xiangwang Mansion, evoking a flood of emotions.
"Why not escape? Weren’t you good at running away?"
She gathered her thoughts, savoring the previous satisfaction, but joy was like cheap wine, it was most exhilarating when swallowed, yet after repeated experiences, it became tasteless.
Fortunately, there were still many people she needed to take revenge on.
Chen Yi was just the first.
Yin Tingxue sheathed her sword and turned to leave, but after a few steps, hesitated repeatedly, and finally vaulted over the walls of the mansion courtyard.
Contrary to her expectations of dead silence, the mansion was unexpectedly lively.
What met the eyes was not the imagined desolation and decay.
Brand new red lanterns hung under the corridors, and as dusk fell, the candlelight inside flickered to life. Maids carrying lacquer plates bustled back and forth, and the plates were filled with fresh fruits and fine snacks. They walked quickly, swaying as they moved, almost bowing simultaneously when encountering the old matrons.
Two elderly servants carried a basket of fresh bamboo shoots still flecked with mud, chatting continuously about whether to stir-fry it with cured meat or stew it in soup for the evening.
Along the way, a few old plum trees had blossomed, casting sparse shadows and wafting faint fragrances. Several unfamiliar, rosy-cheeked young maids were tiptoeing, carefully clearing the remaining snow from the plum branches with long poles, whispering and laughing as they worked.
At this moment,
the sunlight was perfect, shining on the familiar eaves and ridge corners.
Lost in thought, Yin Tingxue suddenly smiled. The scene before her was not a replay of yesterday, but the mansion had been gifted by the Empress Dowager, moved to a new place, a relocation celebration indeed.
Everyone,
was so happy.
Exhaling a breath of air, Yin Tingxue thought of visiting Yintai Temple, to see what it had been transformed into. As she walked through the corridor, an elderly gardener was leisurely trimming the withered branches of potted plants, with a pot of steaming coarse tea placed by her side.
Yin Tingxue paused for a moment, recognizing her—it was Hong Ling, her personal maid, who had left a small doll for her when she left, placed in a clay pot... How had she aged so much...
Hong Ling was slightly older than her, probably no more than eight years, yet she looked old and infirm, wrinkles crisscrossed her face, her hair was graying, and her cheeks were wrinkled and sagging, even if there was flesh underneath, it couldn’t be filled out, as she had suffered a lot over the past few years.
After gazing for a moment, Yin Tingxue suppressed the multitude of emotions, initially intending to walk away, but at this moment, Hong Ling seemed to have a spiritual connection, spotting her, and suddenly ran towards her.
Yin Tingxue didn’t know why she couldn’t avoid it. Turning her head, she saw Hong Ling’s excited face, hesitated a lot, but she held Yin Tingxue’s hand tightly, the tighter she held, the more certain she became.
Facing each other, after years of not seeing each other, Yin Tingxue didn’t know what to say. Hong Ling’s lips quivered, and after a long time, she spoke:
"Miss, you’re still so small."
Yin Tingxue, who initially intended to leave, suddenly wanted to stay forever.
Hong Ling pulled at her, her eyes bright, her eyes always bright, having always used these bright eyes to take her to play, they were bright now too, just like when they were young.
"Hong Ling..."
"I-I-I recognized you right away!" Hong Ling stammered with excitement, "Miss, it’s been... so long."
Yin Tingxue’s face was also full of tears,
"The little doll... is gone... it was taken."
"It’s gone... Miss, you still remember, I remember too, don’t worry, Miss, don’t be afraid, I can still weave, still weave!"
"I also... I also still want, Hong Ling, why are you here?"
"A new official came to the house, the Xiangwang Mansion was gifted away, the housekeeper went to the human trafficker to recruit maidservants, saw that I was familiar with this mansion and recruited me back at once, don’t worry, I don’t recognize them as masters, Miss, let’s leave some day."
"Okay, let’s go! Let’s get out, not staying here, not staying here..."
The Demon Sect Saintess had tears in her eyes, which fell one by one, she and Hong Ling hugged tightly, just like when they were young.
Slowly, Hong Ling’s body became soft and limp, as if it had little life left, at this point she drowsily opened her eyes to see.
...she held tight only to the bedding.
The candlelight froze, the halo of the campfire also stood still, illuminating the tear stains on her face that hadn’t dried, Yin Tingxue stared blankly, lost in thought.
In the dimness, a hand slowly placed something at the bedside,
"...there’s no little doll, here’s a... little paper flower."
Yin Tingxue suddenly turned around.
The man showed a gentle yet somewhat clumsy smile.
The Demon Sect Saintess came to her senses, with another glance at the surrounding scenery, it looked somewhat familiar, yet she didn’t know in which bedroom she was, apparently she had just fainted, and what just occurred was but a dream.
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